A free Robinson Cano autograph...

Today I get my mail and inside was a big envelope from Topps.  I was like oh maybe it's a blogger playing a practical joke since I haven't bought anything recently, or won any auctions that would come in the mail (especially from Topps).  So I opened it with the excitement and anticipation of a kid on Christmas morning, and holy smokes it's an on card Robinson Cano autograph...  Instant smile (despite wanting to kick him).  

So then I am sitting at the kitchen table staring into space wondering where the hell this came from and wondered how the cardboard Gods knew they needed to intervene in my disinterest in cards.  This went on for a few minutes until I realized I didn't look at the paper that was wrapped around the card.  I  opened it up and realized it was a redemption...   Which I apparently redeemed at some point.  I have literally no idea what I paid for this or when I redeemed it so it was basically like getting a free gift in the mail.  I vaguely remember buying it months and months ago.

eBay doesn't go back far enough for me to find the auction and Topps only shows shipping dates so whatever, it was free as far as I'm concerned.  My last purchase on eBay in January was a Callahan auto, and before that I made 3 purchases according to my feedback. One in August, September, and October so maybe it was one of those.  I should buy redemption cards more often so that when they arrive months later it's a fun surprise.

Anyone else ever redeem a card and forget about it or am I the only crazy person that's done this?

P.S. I went to label this post "Marie is crazy" and it was already an option... That made me laugh.

I suck at blogging.

In light of the ridiculous amount of time that has lapsed between recent posts, I thought I would share a story about a redemption card that took a LONG time to surface.

November 13, 2010 posted a 2010-2011 Panini Limited box break. I redeemed the card later that evening and waited... and waited... and waited...

Then somewhere around November 8, 2011 the card finally arrived. Considering the NBA players are sitting around diddling themselves, Lamar should have had plenty of time between Keeping Up With The Kardashian episodes to sign 49 friggin cards. Just sayin'.

For me personally, this is one of those times of the year where I am bored with cards and don't have much to say about them. It appears Sooz is feeling somewhat the same, at least as far as blogging goes. I'm kind of looking forward to Bowman Draft Picks & Prospects, but at the same time I honestly don't care to go look for it. I am not big into prospect cards unless it's someone I've already been scoping out like Banuelos.

We didn't get a box of 2011 Topps Tier One to review but based on what I have heard through the grape vine, we didn't miss out on much. I do have one more card I got for my PC to show off later on, but I have to dig it out from under the pile here to scan. It's borderline exciting.

Also, stay tuned for contest results.

False Hope in the Mail

Today I went to my mailbox and discovered 3 envelopes from Topps fulfillment and was instantly excited. Honestly, I had no idea what the heck I redeemed or even remember doing so for that matter. I ripped open the envelopes and found the following:


Sam Bradford

C.J. Spiller

Max Hall


Oh... those cards...



Yeah, so I remembered how I ended up with these cards. A while back the card shop had some redemption's to give away so they snuck me a couple. Gridiron something or other. All I know is, I want to trade them to someone who likes football cards or collects any of these dudes.

1st Diamond Embedded 1/1 Card Hits eBay

I got an email earlier today from a reader pointing out something that came up when he was looking for something completely different. He thought I would find it interesting... I sure do. While I have no interest in the player on the card, this is an interesting card to say the least. This is the first diamond embedded redemption card to hit eBay. It has 6 offers to date.

What do you think it will sell for? Would you bid on one of these of your favorite player?

I would bid, but I am way to cheap to ever win one.

A Topps Redemption

About two weeks ago I was trying to clean off my desk and scanner of the piles of cards that have accumulated over the last semester, this is still going on and may go on forever. At any rate, I found a redemption card from the 2009 Topps Ticket to Stardom that I opened on Christmas. Yes, I forgot all about it until now.

Being that it isn't a player I collect it just got shoved into a pile of stuff that I was going ot figure out what to do with later. I thought about selling it on eBay, and then I figured I might as well see what kind of season he is having before bothering. I put the code in about 2 weeks ago and the card arrived today, which seemed awfully quick to me.

Want to know who it is? Click to satisfy your curiosity.

I'm willing to trade it for something fun. If no one cares.... off to the glue factory, I mean eBay.

Look what Topps sent me

I haven't checked my redemption list in awhile, so I pleasantly surprised when I saw there was a package from Tristar fulfillment in my mailbox this afternoon.

I know that really means Topps. I wasn't fooled.

I had put in for a Finest rookie card and I honestly didn't know which players went with what numbers. I just entered the code and hoped for the best.

I was pleasantly surprised when I pulled this out. Not a refractor, I had a base card. But I like it anyway.



The only thing that would have made this card better is if they Porcello throwing down Youklis in that fight during the summer.

Red Hot Rookie Redemption In Hand!

After over a year of waiting, there were two Tri-Star fulfillment envelopes in my mailbox today. Red Hot Rookies number #11 Clayton Kershaw, and #14 Pablo Sandoval have arrived and are pretty sweet looking. I scanned both the front and back of each card to show everyone what they finally ended up looking like after all this waiting and anticipation. Simply stated, they are really nice Topps Chrome refractors. I like them because they are un-like all the other cards out there. I'm going to hold onto them for a bit and decide if they are worth trading, at least I think that's what I am going to do.

What sets these cards apart from other rookies is that they are alot harder to find, and they are different than your average rookie card. Probably would have been a cool idea to continue these from year to year, but with the length of time it took them to deliver on them I can see why they are not doing that. I think Kershaw is going to be a great pitcher, and I have also heard great things about Sandoval from fellow bloggers as well as from reading stuff. I don't think I did terrible on these two guys.

Let me know what you think of them, or if you got yours today who you got as well as what you think of 'em.

2006 Bowman Heritage Redemption

About 6 or 8 months ago, I picked up some bargain packs at Target for $1.59 each including some 2006 Bowman Heritage leftovers. One of the packs had a Signs of Greatness autograph redemption of John Drennan. I waited until the last possible minute to redeem this simply because I really didn't want this guy's autograph since I had never heard of him.

Rumor had it that Topps, in the event of not having what you are sending in for, sends something better. Well, I finally got my redemption card in the mail today with the following letter (click on it if you want to read it, I was too lazy to type it all out):



The card I was sent, by product alone, was far more valuable than what I was supposed to get. I still have no idea who this is, but I'll take it (or trade it).

2006 Bowman Sterling Brad Furnish autograph, card BSP-BF.

Topps Red Hot Rookie Delay

Today I received the following e-mail from Topps, twice actually for two cards I redeemed many, many moons ago.

Dear Consumer.

This email is to inform you that the Topps Company is currently experiencing a delay in processing the following redemption card: Red Hot Rookie #11

There was also a pin # and code.

Really? This was supposed to ship according to the cards by the first week of November. November of what year? The letter should have read:

Dear Consumer.

This e-mail is to inform you that you are just another sucker who spent money on the most boring product of Topps 2008 line. Thanks for your donation, you will get your final crappy card when we are good and ready to send it out.

Now if I could respond to this, some of the hair on the back of your necks might stand with the profanity that would be in that response.

I did luck out with Card #11, and I have no idea who #14 is but I am supposed to get that dude also. Here is the final checklist if anyone is interested in what they may or may not ever see from Topps.

2008 Topps Red Hot Rookie Redemption Checklist:


# 1 Jay Bruce, Cincinnati Reds / Autographed
# 2 Justin Masterson, Boston Red Sox
# 3 John Bowker, San Francisco Giants
# 4 Kosuke Fukudome, Chicago Cubs
# 5 Mike Aviles, Kansas City Royals
# 6 Chris Davis, Texas Rangers
# 7 Chris Volsatd, Florida Marlins
# 8 Jeff Samardzija, Chicago Cubs
# 9 Brad Ziegler, Oakland A’s
# 10 Gio Gonzalez, Oakland A’s
# 11 Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers
# 12 Daniel Murphy, New York Mets
# 13 Chris Dickerson, Cincinnati Reds
# 14 Pablo Sandoval, San Francisco Giants
# 15 Nick Evans, New York Mets
# 16 Clayton Richard, Chicago White Sox
# 17 Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay Rays
# 18 Taylor Teagraden, Texas Rangers
# 19 Collin Balester, Washington Nationals
# 20 Lou Montanez, Baltimore Orioles

2005 Topps Turkey Red Box Break

Once upon a time I bought a hobby box of 2005 Topps Turkey Red. By once upon a time, I mean I bought the box 2 years ago on eBay for a great deal.

I tend to be a squirrel of sorts, so it took me two years to break it. Let me remind those of you who do the same thing, if you have them from 2005, OPEN THEM! The reason I say this is, the autograph redemptions will expire around Ausust 2007 and you will no longer be able to redeem these. Thanks to Sooz, I made it in time and thank goodness.

In this hobby box, I received a Mariano Rivera autograph redemption card. I very rarely, if ever, pull a great auto card. Now, don't feel bad for me because I don't buy expensive boxes so it's my own fault. At any rate, I sent in the card and within 2 weeks I had my Rivera autographed card. Also in this box I got a Red game used Jersey Card of Alex Rodriguez which made it that much sweeter.

I think at the time I paid $58 for the box, and it was well worth it from those two cards and it was loaded with Yankees base cards, as well as a couple of SP's.

Now the question is..... Do I send out the auto card to get it graded?